Australia terminates submarine rescue system contract

Australia has cancelled a contract with Phoenix International for the delivery of a new submarine escape, rescue, and abandonment system (SERAS) intended to support the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Collins-class submarines and the planned new Attack-class boats.

The RAN’s on-call submarine escape and rescue capability is currently provided by JFD Australia and includes the submarine rescue vehicle LR5 (pictured) and a Scorpio 45 intervention ROV. (US Navy)

The termination, announced by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) on 21 January, follows a review of the project last year. The DoD said it will now work with Phoenix International to reach a settlement that will include addressing arrangements with the company and its subcontractors.

Plans for a new SERAS capability have been developed under Project SEA 1354 Phase 1. Following competition, Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. was in December 2018 awarded a AUD255 million (USD184 million) contract for the four-year acquisition phase. Under the terms of the contract, its local subsidiary Phoenix International (Australia) Pty Ltd was to begin delivering the service from a base in Western Australia by December 2022.

The acquisition phase contract included the design and construction of a new 600-metre-capable remotely operated rescue vehicle, a shallow water submarine rescue bell rated to depths of 80 m, a launch-and-recovery system designed to fit on a variety of mother ships to support a rapid response to a disabled submarine (DISSUB), and a transfer under pressure/hyperbaric suite. The scope of the contract also covered a new submarine rescue facility in Western Australia for the training of rescue personnel and RAN submariners, storage of all submarine escape and rescue equipment, and mobilisation of the Phoenix Australia team and equipment in the event of a DISSUB incident.